HANCOCK lies in
the S. E. corner of Addison county; has one
post-office, and 23,040 acres by charter, granted Nov. 7, 1780, chartered July
31, 1781, by Vt. to Samuel Wilcox and his asso­ciates. The settlement was
commenced in the year 1788, by Joseph Butts, from Canterbury, Conn., Dan'l
Claflin, from New
Salem, and John Bellows, from Dalton, Mass., with their families.
Several young men also began im­provements the same year, among whom were Zenas
Robbins, from Pittsfield, Mass., and Levi Darling. Eben'r, son of Dan'l
Claflin, was the first child born here.

The town was
organized June 18, 1792. First town clerk, Zenas Robbins;
constable, Noah Cady; selectmen, Dan'l Claflin, John Bellows, and Jas. Claflin.First justice of the peace, Esias Butts, 1799, and first rep.
in 1800.First physician, Darius Smith, 1801, who
lived and died in the town.

The first public
house was kept by Jose h Butts, at the now small village of Hancock; afterwards
by Esias Butts for many years. Dan'l Claflin commenced on the mountain farm, on
the road to Middlebury, in an early day, and kept a public house for many
years, a really con­venient place for travellers who had to pass over the
mountain through the then mostly wilderness country from East Middlebury to
Hancock vil­lage, to wood and water up for the journey, which
they usually did, in those good old times, with a hearty good-will. The first
sawmill and grist­mill was built by Zenas Robbins, about 1800; till then the
inhabitants went to Stockbridge, some 10 miles, to mill.

Nature has
surrounded us with her towering mountains and evergreen hills, her mimic sheets
of water falling in beautiful cascades from their mountain homes, and uniting
with each other until at last they form the beautiful Connecticut. On the
summit of the mountain over which crosses the road to Middlebury, is a public
house, called the Mount Vernon House, kept by Messrs. Packard. One half a mile from this place is the Mount Vernon pond, accessible
only by ascend­ing steps cut in the rocks. The pond is one half mile in
diameter, and affords to pleasure seekers a fine place for trouting,
boat-riding, and exhaling the pure mountain breezes.

SENATOR ALLEN.

GEN. ALONZO G.
ALLEN was born in Bar­nard, Sept. 2, 1811. His grandfather, Elnathan Allen,
removed from Connecticut about the year 1780, to the then wilderness of
Vermont. He is said to have been a distant relative of "Old Ethan."
Be that as it may, the subject of this notice has shown by his life that
whether he be connected or not with him by blood, he certainly inherits
much of his spirit.

Until the age of
14, he resided on his father's farm, remote from school, and noted for but two
peculiarities, — a passionate love of books, and a waywardness of disposition,
which would sooner yield to a mother's kind request than the father's stern
command.

His father at
that time entering into commer‑

44 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

cial business, installed his son as clerk, who, being rather
an apt scholar, soon learned the lessons usually taught in the N. E. rum and
cod­fish shops of those days, and became, in modern parlance, a "fast
boy."

At the age of 17,
a clergyman residing in the same district, (who had often tried to approach him
with good counsel, and only met levity and boyish jests in return,) made
application to his father to employ him as teacher in their district school, of
which he was superintending com­mittee.

The boy was taken
aback, — the father hesi­tated; but the clergyman insisted that Alonzo had all
the elements of a good teacher. He en­tered the school, receiving the
munificent remun­eration of $8 per month, and to the surprise of many, and the
satisfaction of all, he was suc­cessful.

This was the
turning point of his life. From that time, higher aspirations controlled his ac­tions;
and although deprived of a classical edu­cation which was intended for him, in
consequence of the pecuniary reverses of his father, he made himself master of
all the fundamental principles of an English education, and for some 30 years
has been a teacher during the winter season in district schools, with uniform
success; and may be considered as one of the most untiring and active friends
of the cause of popular education in the State.

He removed to
Granville in 1837. In 1838, was elected captain of the militia under the then
existing laws, and served 5 years. In 1856, elected captain of the Green
Mountain Rangers, which office he held until promoted to that of Judge Advocate
General by the Legislature, in 1857. He was elected town superintendent of
schools upon the establishment of that office, and has continued to perform its
duties to the present time with credit to himself, and signal benefit to his
town.

He has served as
justice of the peace for up­wards of 20 years; represented his town in the
legislature in 1843, '48, '56, and '57, and was elected Senator for Addison county in '59.

In person, Gen.
Allen furnishes a fine specimen of a Green Mountain Boy, — 6 feet 2 inches in
height, and well proportioned. May he long live an example of an affectionate
husband, a kind parent, and a useful citizen.